Brake system for electrically operated vehicles



L. SPANGLER 1,833,443

BRAKE SYSTEM FOR ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED VEHICLES Nov. 24, 1931.

Filed Sept. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I k'gi AA 1 //V VF/V 70/? Ludwig Spiny/er Affo neg Nov. 24, 1931. 1.. sPANGLER 1,333,443

BRAKE SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VEHICLES Filed Sept. 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 by ZM Af/or q Patented Nov. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LUDWIG SPANG ER, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA BRAKESYSTEM-FOR ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED VEHICLES V a p icat on filed September 21, 1929, Serial No. 394,280, and in Austria September 27, 1928.

interrupted but the motors'a re closedupon themselves by specialbraking circuits, say by bringingthe usual controller into the brake on position, the motors continue to run due to the inertia of the vehicles and of their/ own rotors, thereby generating electric flowing through the said braking circuits at the expense of vis viva of the vehicles and the rotors of the electric motors thus pro ducing aneflicient braking of the vehicles. This method of braking is fully satisfactory reliable as long as the braking circuits are in proper order, but if of the two braking cir cuits one is broken or otherwise fails for any reason whatever the braking action is reduced to about one half ofits normal value wherefrom accidents may result.

The main object of my invention is to obviate such consequences of the said failing ofany of the two brakingcircuits. With this object in view I connect to'each' of the said brake circuits a coil energized by thebrake current in the said brake circuit or part of such current and elements such asalcore 0r armature operated by such coil the said elements of the coils of the two: brake cir-' cuits counteracting each other and being operatively connected to a separate brake apparatus comprising two'parts each ofsuc'h parts being associated to the vehicle wheels driven by'one of the motor or motor groups whereby whenever the current in one of the said coils is in excess of the current in the other coil the part ofthe separate brake apparatus associated to the said other coilis thrown into action applying the brakes of the part of the separate brake apparatus to the wheels driven byithe motor or group of motors associated to the said other coil and itsbrake circuit. Thus the decrease in brake action .due to the failure of any one of the brake circuits is reduced or compensated for by the brake action of the part of the separate brakeapparatuson the wheels driven by the motor or motor group the brake current of which is weaker.

In the annexed drawings I have diagrammatically shown by way of example various modifications of brake systems in accordance With'the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical View of a simpleconstructional form of my improved brake system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a slight modification of the same.

Fig. 3 illustrates a further modification of my improved brake system.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the system shown in ig. 3.

In Fig. l, 1 and 2 are two electric driving motors or groups of such motors of a vehicle which for the sake of simplicity are shown as series motors. \Vhen thrown into braking position by a controller not shown, each of the two motors is in a braking circuit including the usual control resistance, 3, a. F or the sake of clearness two braking circuits entirely separate the one of the other are shown in Fig. 1 although such braking 75 circuit might be interconnected in any known or preferred manner. Moreover each of the brake circuits includes a solenoid coil 5 and 6 respectively.

The twosolenoids counteract each other andhave in common a core 7 connected to a member 7 of a' separate brake apparatus for instance the brake lever of a mechanical brake link and lever gearing 8, 8. If now the braking current of one of the motors for 3 instance 1 becomes stronger than that of the other mot-or .2 or if the braking circuit of the motor 2 is entirely broken for any reason whatever, then the solenoid 5 associated to the motor 1 attracts the core 7 and turns the lever 7 in such a direction, that link and lever gearing 8 applies the brake shoes of the separate brake apparatus to the vehicle wheels driven by the motor 1 that is to say to the vehicle wheels associated to the motor the braking current of which is unduly weakened. Normally the current intensity in the braking circuits of the two'motors is at least approximately the same and hence source ofipovver. i

. group of pairs of heels by the lever 7 remains at rest and the separate brake apparatus remains inoperative.

Since on weakening or interrupting-the that notvvithstanding the failureof one "motor or roup of motors on the vehiclewvheels same braking action is exerted as on the Wheels driven by: theother-imotor so that substantially the full braking action is ob t i Lun-i 4 Instead of causing the solenoids 5, 6 and the core 7 to act directly on the lever .7 they might also act on the separate brake appa ratlis through the inedium of any suita'oie mechanical or other-- relays or they jmight operate the controlvalves of vacuum erair pressure brakes, such intermediate devices are WVGll known to persons conversant yvith the art and need not be more'fully' described and illustrated. 7 Y

If'a pair of'Wheels or a group of pairs of Wheels are driven by a group of motors for instance the" two pairs of'wheelsf of a truck are each driven'byf amotor, the arrangen'rent may be" such that the motors of "the group are connected in series when in the brake on po'sition and that if one motor of the group fails toffurnish the necessary braking current, brakes are applied to the associated an. extraneous The main advanta e of the arran einent V above des'cr'ib'ed is its great simplicity and" i almost absolute impossibility cit its getting out of order. It is only necessary to provide foreach pair of-Wheels or group ofpairs of wheels a separate braking apparatus adapted" to; apply brakes to the pairof Wheels.v re

quiring separate braking. Such second braking apparatus may also be acted'upon by the usual hand brake or an independent vacuum or air pressure brakingapparatu's suitably constructed; Y is'jnot desired to throw into action the abdve' described arrangement already at small ,difierences-ofithe intensities of the .1 In=theiarrangement ust described it may happen fmoreparticularly-if'in one of the.

braking circuits flovvsa current of a comparatively small but not negligible intensity, that the combined action of braking by the braking current and the separate brake apparatus causes the Wheels to which the brakes are applied to slip Whereby'the braking-action is notably reduced. This objectionable resultmay'be obviated according to the invention byproviding a mechanism Which auto- 7 matic'ally reduces the leverage of the core or associated to this motor-substantially "the armature 10f. thei 'solenoid or coil tending to throw the lever 7 into the brake applying position' wheneversuehaeves follows the. action of a brake current in one brake circuit exceedingthat-in the other brakecurrent.

respectively. bTh ese cores are not directly 7 connected to the lever actuati'ngthe sepa; rate brake apparatus "as in Fig. 1", but carry slotted: arms I 27,, 2'8 respectively into Which engage s'l-idably the ends of a'tr'ans'verse arm 26-011 the lever-Tactuating the unk a'na lever gearing offthe separatebr'ake apparatus: It now the current intensity in the brake circuit'of'the motor 2is-redi1ced for any reason the pull of the solenoid-5 exceeds that '"ofthe solenoid 6: and the core 31' is pulled into the solenoid 5 whereby the. lever Tisturned and tne se'paratebrakes are applied to the Wheels driven by the motor 2 QWing to the arrange ment ofthe transverse arm 26, which 'i-n the position ofrest is inline vvith the 'axes'of the two solenoids the lengths rases-ever arms onwhich act the coresof the solenoids are varied When the" lever .7 is turned; 'v'vhile 'inthecent'raliposi'tionfof the lever 7 'tlie sentedbyb vvhile that for the-solenoid h is repres'entedby c. i Ovving' t'o the difiefencebe tween the lever arms I) and 0 the action of the solenoid Scarrying the heavier brake current is the more reduced the further the core 31 is pulled into this solenoid and the further the leverjis turned, '1'

Thereby not only the action of the separate brake apparatus is reduced, but alsoTa eculiarit Cf the'soleneid 'aetioi is comp'en: sated fforf This peculiarity consists in that the pulling force exerted bya solenoidion its core 'increases 'all other things" being equal the further; Within certain "limits,- the core is pulled 'into' the solenoid; and decreases as the core is pulled out'of the solenoid; This pe uliarity would result in'the absence ofthe arrangenient est-described in an un'du'e increase .lof the brakeaction .ofthe-"separate brake apparatus since on throwing the latter the two motors or motor other tractor.

Less-A43 brake currents flows through the coil of a' solenoid whereby in case the two current in ten'sities are unequal and mor particularly that one of the-brake circuits is broken the stronger pull of the one or the other solenoid actuates an element such as a brake lever connected to thecore or cores of the solenoids and operatively connected to the separate brake apparatus whereby the separate'brakes are applied to the wheels driven by the motor, the brake current of which is weaker or in terrupted.

While this arrangement is quite satisfactory forshort vehicles having two axles only each of which is equipped with one driving motor or group of motors the application of the same to long Vehicles with two trucks each equipped with a driving motor or group of motors meets with serious constructional difficulties which are still greater in the case when the motor or motor groups are mounted on separate vehicles constituting coupled twin tractors coupled or not with trailers. In order to enable the present invention to be applied readily in such cases too I simply duplicate this arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, which shows two coupled tractors each comprising one driven axle only.

7 Each of the tractors is shown to be pro vided with one motor 1 and 2 respectively; the brake circuits of the two tractors in clude each a solenoid 51 and 62 on such tractor and two solenoids 52 and 61 on the the one hand and 61 and 62 are connected in series, so that the current intensities in the solenoids so connected are at all times exactly the same. The solenoid 51, 61 act in opposition to each other on a core 31 common to them and the solenoids 52, 62 act inopposition to each other on a core 32 common to them. Each of the cores 31, 32 acts through the medium of a suitable gearing indicated by simple lever 71 and 72 respectively or through'the medium of suitable relays on a separate brake apparatus 21, 22 respectively of the tractor, carrying the respective core.

l/Vhenever in case of electric braking as above referred to the current intensities in the brake currents of the two motors 1 and 2 are exactly or substantially'equal the two cores 31, 32 remain at rest since the solenoids 51, 61 and 52, 62 respectively exert on the same equal forces in opposite directions, so that the separate brake apparatus is not thrown into operation. If, however, one of the brake The solenoids 51 and 52 on currents, for instance that of the motor 1 is interrupted or is notably weaker than that of the motor 2 the core 31 will be pulled to the right as shown in F ig. 3 under the action: of the coil 61 and the separate brake apparatus 21 of the tractor or vehicle 1 will be thrown into action. In the second tractor the solenoid tends to pull the core 32 in a direction for releasing the second brake 22 ofthis second tractor which, however, is superfluous since this second brake is already released. Therefore the movement of the element 7 2 in the direction for releasing the second brake 22 may be limited by a stop'12. Thereby I avoid that the distance between the brake shoes and wheel rims of the tractor becomes unduly great. When the brake current of the motor 2 becomes notably less than that of the motor 1 or is interrupted' the core 32 will apply the second brake of the second tractor and the core 31 of the first tractor will be moved by the sole noid 51 in a direction for releasing the sec ond brake 21 unless the element 71 be arrested by a stop 11. Therefore in any case whenever the brake current of a motor or group of motors should fail the second brakes will be applied to the wheels driven by such motor or group of motors by the action of the brake current of the other motor or group of motors, while the second brakes of the wheels driven by the said other motor or group of motors remain released.

Although the above arrangement has been described as applied to a twin tractor comprising two coupled motor vehicles each equipped with a motor or group of motors it can obviously be also applied to any vehicle equipped with two motors the second brake apparatus comprising two parts each oi which is associated to the wheels driven by one motor or motor group, in case of vehicles on trucks the two parts of the second brake apparatus are entirely independent or" any displacements of such trucks relatively to each other.

In electrically braking vehicles in the manner above referred to it frequently happens that the intensity of the brake currents varies although the brake circuits are not in any way injured. It is undesirable that such current variations occurring in normal operation cause the second brake apparatus to be actuated. For preventing such unclesirable actuation of the second brake apparatus I provide means whereby the application of the second brakes to wheels is effect ed only when the current intensity in the associated brake circuit has been reduced to a value below the unit occurring in normal operation. Such means may be constituted by a locking device normally locking inposition the element actuated by the solenoids and actuating in turn the second brake apparatus and releasing the same only after the intensity of the brake current has sunk below the above indicated. predetermined limit.

' This may be arrived at in the arrangement illustrated inFig. 3 by reducing the action of the solenoids tending to applythe second brakes as I comparedwith the action of the solenoids tending to release the brakes by reducing the currentintensity or number of turns in the former solenoids as compared with the values of the corresponding iqua'n tities of thelatter'solenoids. Such an ar'- rangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 but may be also applied to the plant shown in Fig. 1.-

? The fbr ake le ers 71, 72 are provided with forks 9, 10 into which engage the hook shaped ends of levers 13, 14 pivoted in the vehicle" frame a215, 16.. .Springs 17, 18'tend to turn these levers into the open position whllexsolenoids 19, 20 included in the brake circuits tend to hold them in the locked position. a

As long as the intensity of the brake current isabovea predetermined. value as is shown in thc'case otthe motor 2, the action of the associated solenoid 20 is so great that the lever 1 is held in locking position, the

" action of the spring 18 being overcome.

The lever 72 then contacts on the one hand with the stop 12 and on the other hand withnoid action and the lever 13 is disengaged from the fork'9.

, The lever 71 is then turned clockwise by the action of the solenoidfil, not iavi-ng undergone a reduction of excitation and the second brakes are applied to' the wheels driven by the motor 1.

Fig. tshows various further arrangements [all of which are for thepurpose to retard the actuation of the second brakesiso that they are not thrown into operation each slight reduction of the brake current but only at a considerable variation thereof. For simplifying the illustration all these arrangements are shown united in one plant although in practice in generalonly one of these arrangements will be utilized.

Fig. 4; shows the left half of a brake plant. In order to reduce the actionot the solenoic.

S1 tending tobring about the application of the'brakes, as compared with the action of he soleno1d'51 tending to release the brakes the cores Stand 83 respectively associated to such solenoids act on the lever 71 with a different leverage or at lever arms of different length, the one at 86 and the other at 85 the lever; arm associated to thesolenoid 61 being the shorter one. 7 i a The sameefiect may be obtained according to the invention making thesolenoid '51 tendlever not shown having connected in parallel with it a solenoid 88 which acts-on the brake lever87 which normally. acts to apply the second brakesl .It will. be understood that the tullbralre current flows through the sole :noid 51 but onl part thereofflows through the solenoid 52, the remainder flowing through the solenoid88. Similarly, the cur.- rent flowingthroughithe solenoid 61will be reduced. 1

-' All of the last described arrangements may of course be'applied whether the brake applying element directly actuated by the coils and cores does not directlyoperate the second brake apparatus, but does so through the mediuni oi relays as above indicated. i hat 1. claim is: v W i l. A brake system'for electrically operated vehicles comprisin two electric'driving units, each driving one set of wheels, a hralre apparatus comprising two parts each of which is associated. to one of the said sets of wheels, each of the said electric driving units being adapted to be closed upon itself through the medium of a brake circuit, at least one coil electrically connect-ed to each of said brake circuits, an iron core-associated to each of said coils the coil of one. brake circuit and its associated core'counteractingthe coil oi the other brake circuitand its associated core, a brake applying element associated to eachoi' the two parts of the brake apparatus and adapted to. apply brakes tothe corresponding set of wheels and means for operatively' connecting the two cores of the said pair of counteracting coils with each other andwith one, of the said brake applying elements, whereby, whenever the current intensity in the brake circuit of one electric driving unit falls below that inthebral-re circuitof the other electric; driving unit, brakesotthe part or" the brake apparatus associatedto the setot wheels driven by the electric driving unit, in the brake circuit of which the current intensity is smaller. are applied to the set ofwheels associated to the last named electric driving unit. I

'2. I brake systeni for electrically operated ve llClOS' comprising two electric driving units, each driving one set of wheels, a brake apparatus comprising two parts each of which is associated tonne of the said sets oiwheels, each of the said electric driving units being adapted to becclosed upon itself through themediumof a brake circuit, two

coils located at a distance from each other and electrically connected to each of said brake circuits, an iron core associated eacl of said coils, the coil of one brake circuit and its associated core counteracting one coil of the other brake circuit and its associated core, a brake applying element associated to each of the two parts of the brake appa ratus and adapted to apply brakes to the corresponding set 0:: wheels and means for operati'vely connecting the two cores of each of the said pairs of counteractii 3; code w h each other and with one of the said b e applying elements, whereby, whenever he current intensity in the hralre circuit of one electric driving unit falls below that l brake circuit of the other electric unit, brakes of the partof the bra paratus associated to the set oi wheels by the electric driving unit in the brake c cuit of which the current intensity sh ler are applied to the set of wheels associated to the last named electric driving unit.

3. A brake system for electrically operated vehicles comprising two electric driving units, each driving one set of wheels, a brake apparatus comprising two parts each of which is associated to one of the said sets of wheels, each of the said electric driving units being adapted to be closed upon itself through the medium of a brake circuit, two coils located at a distance from each other and electrically connected in series to each of said brake circuits, an iron core associated to each of said coils, each of the coils of one brake circuit and its associated core counteracting one coil of the other brake circuit and its associated core, a brake applying element associated to each of the two parts of the brake apparatus and adapted to apply brakes to the corresponding set of wheels and means for operativelv connecting the two cores of each of the said pairs of counteracting coils with each other and with one of the said brake applying elements, whereby, whenever the current intensity in the brake circuit of one electric driving unit falls below that in the brake circuit of the other electric driving unit,

' brakes of the part of the brake apparatus associated to the set of wheels driven by the electric driving unit, in the brake circuit of which the current intensity is smaller are applied. to the set of wheels associated to the last named electric driving unit.

4. A brake system for electrically operated vehicles comprising two electric driving units, each driving one set of wheels, a brake apparatus comprising two parts each of I which is associated to one of the said sets of coils, each of the coils of one brake circuit and its associated core counteracting one coil of the other brake circuit and its associated core, a brake applying element associated to each of the two parts of the brake apparatus and adapted to apply brakes to the corresponding set of wheels, means for operatively connecting the two cores of each of the said pairs of counteracting coils with each other and with one of the said brake applying elements, whereby, whenever the current intensity in the brake circuit of one electric driving unit falls below that in the brake circuit of the other electric driving unit, brakes of the part of the brake apparatus associated to the set of wheels driven by the electric driving unitin the brake circuit of which the current intensity is smaller are applied to the set of wheels associated to the last named electric driving unit and stops for limiting the movement of the parts of the brake apparatus in the direction of releasing the brakes.

In testimony whereof I aiiir; my signature.

LUDVVIG SPANGLER. 

